Maine continues to lag behind the nation in job growth

LePage’s bottom of the pack ranking hits young families, rural Maine hardest

AUGUSTA— Legislative leaders issued a statement on the latest unemployment data released by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Maine has ranked 49th in terms of job growth and has recovered only half of the jobs lost from the recession, compared with 99 percent of jobs in New England as a whole.

“Governor LePage’s bad policies and chronic mismanagement have left our economy and our people behind,” said Speaker of the House Mark Eves of North Berwick. “While other states are seeing strong growth, Maine families, especially in rural areas, are struggling.”

According to the federal data, job growth has been limited to the Bangor, Portland, and Lewiston-Auburn areas, and employment for the majority of adults (those ages 25 to 54) has not increased since the recession.

“It’s out of touch for Governor LePage to be bragging about these numbers,” said Senate President Justin Alfond of Portland. “The governor has rejected and held up the very proposals that would help Maine workers and businesses; and, as a result we’ve had three years of anemic job growth.”

For the first two years of the LePage administration, the governor refused to issue more than $100 million in voter-approved bonds for construction projects across Maine. Last July, Governor LePage released the bonds but then seven months later reneged on this promise, halting work on more than $50 million in construction projects.

Data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that only four of Maine’s 16 counties gained population in the year from July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013.

“Maine has missed out on opportunities for job growth because of the governor. From sitting on voter-approved bonds to failing to invest in our innovation economy to chasing away Statoil, he’s stifled job creation efforts in our state,” said House Majority Leader Seth Berry of Bowdoinham, the House chair of the Joint Select Committee on Maine’s Workforce and Economic Future. “We need a CEO who makes smart choices to create jobs in the near-term and beyond.”

Cumberland County was the fastest-growing county during the period, gaining 1,616 residents – 0.57 percent. Hancock County had a gain of 279 people (0.51 percent); York County added 390 people (0.2 percent); and Waldo County gained 70 residents (0.18 percent).

“Clearly, Governor LePage lacks the vision and confidence to help Maine families and businesses,” said Senate Majority Leader Troy Jackson of Allagash. “This so-called turnaround specialist, turns things around alright–to the point of making Maine workers dizzy.”

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